“I can’t breathe” has become a powerful phrase to symbolize the problem of systemic racism and unchecked prejudiced violence in our country. It’s also a powerful metaphor for the weight of how people feel when it comes to the social, economic, and healthcare inequalities that continue to thrive. And in the age of COVID-19, we keep hearing people say they can’t wait to get back to normal. But if this is what normal has looked like, do we really want it? It’s time for us to get more involved than ever before to create a new normal that includes social justice, civil rights, and compassion.

On this episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, I talked with John Grossenbacher about how to begin this reimagining of America and so much more. John is a Navy veteran, was the Captain of a nuclear attack submarine, and rose to be a Vice Admiral and Commander of the US Submarine Forces. Following the Navy, John became the Director of the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL). INL is a sprawling industrial-scale research facility that covers 900 square miles and employs 4,000 people. There he led science and engineering research in energy, environmental, national, and homeland security fields. He also advised Governors, Senators, Congressmen, state, and local leaders in the region and Canada on energy, environmental, and homeland security matters.

Here are more of the details from our interview: 

• Saving the idea of America (3:08)

• Monopolization of wealth and industry in America (5:29)

• Managing our way out of the coronavirus pandemic with competence and compassion (8:37)

• Reforming America’s broken systems (12:26)

• They mythology of America and the American dream (16:28)

• Creating a culture of values (22:55)

• The impact of technology on our lives (25:39)

• Do we really want to get back to normal? (28:48)

• Reforming the food system and why you can’t separate the food system from politics (32:13)

• Learning from history and science, and John’s book recommendations include, “American Gospel” by John Meacham, “Thinking in Systems” by Donella H. Meadows, and “Trust” by Francis Fukuyama (48:53)